Estonia allows military to sink suspicious vessels

The President of Estonia has approved relevant amendments to the laws on the organization of the country’s Defense Forces, which allow the military to sink suspicious vessels.

The new amendments allow the use of force against suspicious civilian vessels, and in certain cases, to sink them, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

The Defense Forces now have the right, in particular, to stop civilian vessels and vessels in the Estonian maritime zone, redirect them or force them to leave the country’s waters. If it is impossible to repel the threat by other means, the military is allowed to sink the vessel.

Also, according to the law, in case of limited capabilities, the Estonian Armed Forces can request assistance from allied states.

Earlier, USM reported that about 40 violations were found on the tanker of the Russian “shadow fleet” detained by Estonia.